#oil refining capacity

[noohyah]

Is The 2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Dually 6.6L Duramax Diesel Right For You?

If you are looking for a heavy-duty truck that can handle any job, you might want to consider the 2019 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali Dually 6.6L Duramax Diesel.  This truck is not only powerful and capable but also luxurious and comfortable.  It has a stunning exterior design, a spacious and refined interior, and a host of advanced features and technologies.  But is this truck right for you?  In this…

[autooptic]

1938 Mercedes-Benz W154

In September 1936, the AIACR (Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus), the governing body of motor racing, set the new Grand Prix regulations effective from 1938. Key stipulations included a maximum engine displacement of three liters for supercharged engines and 4.5 liters for naturally aspirated engines, with a minimum car weight ranging from 400 to 850 kilograms, depending on engine size.

By the end of the 1937 season, Mercedes-Benz engineers were already hard at work developing the new W154, exploring various ideas, including a naturally aspirated engine with a W24 configuration, a rear-mounted engine, direct fuel injection, and fully streamlined bodies. Ultimately, due to heat management considerations, they opted for an in-house developed 60-degree V12 engine designed by Albert Heess. This engine mirrored the displacement characteristics of the 1924 supercharged two-liter M 2 L 8 engine, with each of its 12 cylinders displacing 250 cc. Using glycol as a coolant allowed temperatures to reach up to 125°C. The engine featured four overhead camshafts operating 48 valves via forked rocker arms, with three cylinders combined under welded coolant jackets, and non-removable heads. It had a high-capacity lubrication system, circulating 100 liters of oil per minute, and initially utilized two single-stage superchargers, later replaced by a more efficient two-stage supercharger in 1939.

The first prototype engine ran on the test bench in January 1938, and by February 7, it had achieved a nearly trouble-free test run, producing 427 hp (314 kW) at 8,000 rpm. During the first half of the season, drivers such as Caracciola, Lang, von Brauchitsch, and Seaman had access to 430 hp (316 kW), which later increased to over 468 hp (344 kW). At the Reims circuit, Hermann Lang's W154 was equipped with the most powerful version, delivering 474 hp (349 kW) and reaching 283 km/h (176 mph) on the straights. Notably, the W154 was the first Mercedes-Benz racing car to feature a five-speed gearbox.

Max Wagner, tasked with designing the suspension, had an easier job than his counterparts working on the engine. He retained much of the advanced chassis architecture from the previous year's W125 but enhanced the torsional rigidity of the frame by 30 percent. The V12 engine was mounted low and at an angle, with the carburetor air intakes extending through the expanded radiator grille.

The driver sat to the right of the propeller shaft, and the W154's sleek body sat close to the ground, lower than the tops of its tires. This design gave the car a dynamic appearance and a low center of gravity. Both Manfred von Brauchitsch and Richard Seaman, whose technical insights were highly valued by Chief Engineer Rudolf Uhlenhaut, praised the car's excellent handling.

The W154 became the most successful Silver Arrow of its era. Rudolf Caracciola secured the 1938 European Championship title (as the World Championship did not yet exist), and the W154 won three of the four Grand Prix races that counted towards the championship.

To ensure proper weight distribution, a saddle tank was installed above the driver's legs. In 1939, the addition of a two-stage supercharger boosted the V12 engine, now named the M163, to 483 hp (355 kW) at 7,800 rpm. Despite the AIACR's efforts to curb the speed of Grand Prix cars, the new three-liter formula cars matched the lap times of the 1937 750-kg formula cars, demonstrating that their attempt was largely unsuccessful. Over the winter of 1938-39, the W154 saw several refinements, including a higher cowl line around the cockpit for improved driver safety and a small, streamlined instrument panel mounted to the saddle tank. As per Uhlenhaut’s philosophy, only essential information was displayed, centered around a large tachometer flanked by water and oil temperature gauges, ensuring the driver wasn't overwhelmed by unnecessary data.

[rametarin]

Yall young people have so much to look forwards.

Yeah, if you're environmentally and ecologically conscientous, it has never been a better time. Do you know why we didn't already have electric cars?

It's not because of some massive coverup and greedy oily oil barons. The energy barons have always maintained desire to invest in and reap benefits from anything that reaps dividends. Energy will always reap dividends. Renewable energy, if even worth investing in, will reap dividends like the expensive, hard process of mining and drilling for oil and then refining and selling it.

It's because the technology and the science simply wasn't there. Not enough to practically and economically provide for our needs. When you see people screaming about how "It already existed!! We just need to.. rethink our needs!" You've likely come across someone that takes a radically bad stance on exactly what an individual's needs are.

There exists a kind of crunchy, borderline totalitarian asshole that, believe it or not, isn't the usual kind of totalitarian asshole, which is often associated with the right wing and Nazis! This totalitarian asshole asks, "What does a person need, really?" And their answer is, "An overarching state and society to govern for The People, and provide for them what has been determined to be their Needs."

When they say, The People, they don't mean you and your individual requirements. They mean the abstract, conceptual, platonic Man, the conceptual human person, and then they ignore you and try to interact with this conceptual ideal. And then they determine how to ration for you. They'll demand you conform to their plan, and then maybe you'll get X amount of a thing to live on, no more no less, as they brag about providing for The People.

Shortages will inevitably happen from this approach, and then you'll survive on half of that, which has been determined to be your new needs. That's the sort of person that thinks you can survive on X-much of resources, if only they can huddle you and a hundred other someodd people onto public transportation that operates on a timer and engineer cities to have a maximum capacity (which will inevitably be overcapacity as more people than they expected arrive to exist there) and their carefully conceived brave new world where they've used shitty math to shortchange people comes back to bite everybody.

Need housing? They deign to stick you into a locker sized Chinese style apartment and think, great, I've created livable housing for millions of people in the same space as used to house hundreds! Yay me!

Need food? Oh, simple; they'll just feed you food that's as simple as possible and emphasize vegetables because they're non-controversial and don't require as complicated a growing cycle or as messy as what happens when their needs aren't met and there's cruelty or unsanitary conditions to worry about. No one goes to court advocating on behalf of pumpkins. So, "wouldn't it just be easier if you were vegetarian or vegan? Your needs would be so much easier to mee! C:"

That sort of person believes if you just "make personal choices" to be as low maintenance and nonmobile and rock eating as possible, the little electrical power generated for transportation and heating and keeping the lights on should be enough to design a whole society around NOW! Don't you want that!? Me neither.

This is why we didn't switch to 100% renewables. The technology and science just does not exist, yet. Yes if we have absurd amounts of (currently toxic, currently difficult to develop and acquire components for solar cells) solar power, we're going to use it, but outside of using giant flywheels or liquid salt heat batteries to power things when the sun isn't shining, we just do not have base load coverage for the needs of society without shortchanging and radically redefining society and how it functions.

The way they would propose society to function is very centralized, top down and authoritarian. That does not meet our needs for personal liberty. But they don't care about that.

And this is important, because the science and technology ARE creeping up to the minimum by which we'll be able to generate enough mega or giga amps required for every individual person. We finally will have the battery capacity to actually store and DO something with all that renewable and nuclear fission derived power!

THAT is the secret sauce, people under 25. THAT is the beauty of this era! It isn't that humanity is "finally sloughing off the yoke of the aristocrats." It's that the actual science and technology is close to fruition where it isn't a violation of physics and entropy to actually have nigh infinite, free electrical power, without either polluting the atmosphere with particulates until it's unbreathable mess, polluting the land and sea until everything dies in the eco-system, or trying to live "within the means" of what renewables can do and rationing our power consumption to one hour a day.

Just having the ability to switch out a fuel powered jet engine with a rechargable solid state battery for turbofan jet engined flight, just having electrically driven boats, we save so much pollution and inefficient energy consumption from even happening. I can't emphasize enough just how big a game changer sufficiently powerful and capacitied batteries are and how essential they are to address power needs.

They change EVERYTHING. They make it possible so residential solar and wind can charge up a house battery, making it possible to function with emergency energy during hard times. They make it possible to outperform internal combustion engines by just simply not consuming enormous amounts of power while idling in traffic. They make transporting power easy peasy, rather than using large pipes or driving it on trains or truck convoys to deliver it.

You kind of came in at the last second of the game and you're probably horrified at the prospects of the world just plain collapsing from climate change and pollution. The Greta Thunbergs of the world didn't help, and then the reactionary Andrew Tates performing by arguing with them really didn't help.

Alternatives to plastic that either are biodegradable or actually recyclable have been developing since the 90s. Plasma wands for particulate free garbage incineration have been available for some time, dealing with our toxic materials can't go in incinerator problems. Heavy metals and carcinogen pollutant areas can be cleaned via use of specific kinds of grubs and earthworms, which rend the materials inert. Biodegradable biomass can be handled before it becomes methane, or the methane captured and put to use.

The biggest alarmists promising unless we "radically do something NOW" are often the kinds of people that believe if you'd just surrender personal autonomy, personal liberty, personal mobility, expectations of actually having a home of your own to live in, then they could have their Brave New World they want. They hate nuclear power because, "it's not radically upsetting to the status quo enough."

It's important to realize solutions are either there, or have been worked on since decades before you were born and either are already being employed, are in the process of getting employed, or are almost ready for the system to capitalize on and solve big problems. And the people screaming about how "no one is doing anything/ they're doing nothing because of greed/ short sighted selfishness" have a very particular bridge to sell you.

[mariacallous]

While Ukraine’s surprise combined-arms incursion into the Russian oblast of Kursk gets all the headlines, Kyiv continues to carry out a parallel, deep-strike operation to target Russian vulnerabilities, with continued attacks on oil refineries and fuel depots behind the front lines.

A massive tank farm in Proletarsk, a city in Russia’s Rostov region, has been burning uncontrollably for four days after Ukrainian drones slammed into 70-odd tanks full of diesel and gasoline; by some estimates, the fire could be incinerating as much as $200 million worth of Russian fuel. Overnight on Tuesday, Ukraine launched one of its biggest attacks yet on Moscow, and although most of those drones and missiles were shot down, Ukraine did seem to start another conflagration at an oft-hit refinery in Novoshakhtinsk, also in Rostov.

So far this year, Ukraine says that it has successfully attacked more than 30 Russian oil installations, some deep inside Russia. The latest estimates are that about 17 percent of Russia’s (admittedly ample) oil-refining capacity has been damaged to some extent by the strikes. But more broadly, Russia continues to export huge volumes of oil and even a fair bit of natural gas, ensuring that oil revenues continue to fuel its war machine despite the odd million spent here and there to repair damaged crackers and condensers.

Ukraine’s pinprick assaults on Russia’s oil infrastructure, often answered with counter-battery Russian missiles aimed at vulnerable Ukrainian power plants, are part of the latest tit-for-tat energy battle in the longer-term, less violent energy war that the two countries have waged for years, especially over natural gas supplies and prices. 

In some ways, the energy fight is an adjunct to the fight on the battlefield. Ukraine’s ability to damage (even for short periods of time) Russian refineries and fuel depots is meant, in part, to undermine logistics for the Russian army, which continues to occupy large swaths of southern and eastern Ukraine. Blowing up expensive installations deep inside Russia is also a psychological boon for Ukraine, which has been largely on the back foot since early 2022. Russia’s systematic destruction of the Ukrainian electric power grid, meanwhile, is meant to undermine civilian morale and resilience ahead of winter.

The White House had initially warned Kyiv not to strike Russian oil installations, fearing Russian reprisals as well as an inconvenient spike in oil and gasoline prices ahead of the U.S. election, but Ukraine has plowed ahead regardless (just as it did with the Kursk incursion). 

The big question is: Do all the eye-grabbing explosions at refineries and fuel depots make much of a difference to Russia’s surprisingly resilient oil-based economy?

“The drones can cause economic damage an order of magnitude or higher than the cost of the drones themselves, and so yes, there is some economic damage and net benefit, cost-wise. But the damage done is brief and relatively easy to repair,” said Sergey Vakulenko, an energy expert at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. “Will it make drastic impacts on Russian oil revenues? Probably not. The drones cannot do what the sanctions were unable to achieve.” 

In some cases, Vakulenko said, the oil installations that Ukraine is targeting, chosen because they are within easy range of drones, may not be the critical marks that Kyiv imagines. Many of the older refineries in western Russia were built to take advantage of export customs loopholes that made it more beneficial to export barely refined oil products, even very low-quality ones, than to export regular crude. These aren’t the crown jewels, but the cracked zircons.

“The benefits of hitting those refineries may not be what the Ukrainians thought,” said Vakulenko, who was previously an oil executive at Russian and international companies. 

Like the Kursk operation, high-profile blows by Ukraine threaten to distort the view of what otherwise remains an unequal battle. If the war has come to the energy patch, it is because Russia—from nearly the beginning of the conflict—has targeted Ukrainian power installations as a deliberate part of its campaign to destroy civilian infrastructure. During the first year of the full-scale invasion, Russia targeted easy-to-hit structures, such as power transformers, that could disrupt electricity across Ukraine, especially in big cities. But that damage was relatively easy to repair, and Ukraine made it through the first winter in fairly good shape. 

At the beginning of this year, once Ukraine had homemade drones and missiles that could strike deep into Russia, thus neatly skirting both U.S. targeting prohibitions and leaky Russian air defenses, Kyiv began systematically hitting oil installations. 

In response, Moscow intensified its campaign against Ukraine’s power grid, this time using heavy missiles to go after harder-to-destroy and much-harder-to-repair power plants themselves. More than half of Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity has been blown up or seriously damaged, a huge problem heading into winter given the reliance of Ukraine’s urban heating system (and water supplies) on the power plants.

But that campaign peaked just before summer; since then, there has been a respite in the Russian vendetta against power plants. The aftershocks are still felt, though. This week, in addition to a small-scale Russian attack on power facilities just across the border in Sumy, Ukraine announced a return to rolling blackouts for many parts of the country—mostly due to increased peak power demand during the hot summer months, but clearly exacerbated by the loss of so much generation capacity, which is still a huge concern for Ukrainian officials and Western experts.

“We have not seen wide-scale attacks for six weeks or so. Russia may just be collecting missiles to attack later in the year, in October or so. As of now, there is no sign that weaponization of energy is weakening,” said Andrian Prokip, an energy expert at the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute in Kyiv.

Yet the fight over refineries and power plants is just part of an even broader energy war that has aspects both of the absurd and of the absurdly normal. 

Last week, after months of feverish speculation, conspiracy theories, and finger-pointing, reporting (and a German arrest warrant) emerged that seemed to put blame for the high-profile 2023 destruction of Russia’s no-longer-operational Nord Stream gas pipeline on a band of Ukrainian freelancers. 

Meanwhile, Russian natural gas continues to transit in pipes through war-torn Ukraine, headed for customers farther west in Austria, Slovakia, and Italy. Not even Ukraine’s cross-border grab of Sudzha, the pumping station for the last trans-Ukraine pipeline, has interrupted the (limited) flows of gas moving from one belligerent state through another. 

And then there are the nuclear power plants. Since early in the war, Russia has occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, in the south-central part of Ukraine. Since then, the International Atomic Energy Agency has periodically warned of concerns over the safety and security of the plant, which is now in shutdown but still potentially dangerous. Two weeks ago, a mysterious fire broke out at one of the cooling towers; a few days later, a drone explosion threatened the power supply to the facility. For years now, Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of nuclear blackmail and brinkmanship over the plant. 

Once Ukraine leapt across the Russian border, Russian media immediately warned that Ukrainian forces were seeking to capture the Kursk nuclear power plant for an apparent atomic hostage swap; most recently, Russian defenders began digging trenches around the reactors.

“The Russians have used and will continue to use the precarious state of nuclear safety at Zaporizhzhia for their own rhetorical and blackmail purposes. I suspect they may try to do the same in relation to the Kursk NPP,” said Darya Dolzikova, a research fellow of the Royal United Services Institute. 

“I see no indication that Ukraine is looking to attack the nuclear plant and the Ukrainian government has refuted any suggestions to that end,” she added. “So any Russian statements or actions to the contrary I take to be fear-mongering by Moscow.”

[slashfuhrer]

what I want to be writing:

'Being the right little doll today, are we?' Jonny purred, slamming Felix against the wall. Dazed, way too high for his own good, Felix only managed a breathy: 'God, Ollie...' before sliding down along the wall. Jonny chuckled quietly as he stroked Felix' lower lip with his thumb. 'Wanna suck me off?' His voice dripped honey straight into Felix' brain. 'Fuck, Olls, I thought you'd never ask.' Well, Jonny thought as he unzipped his jeans, dear brother is pretty blind for not seeing how easy of a lay his golden castle boy is. Might as well make use of it. what I'm having to write instead: "The drop in refining capacity has already led to an increase in oil exports since supplies cannot be refined domestically anymore, and the surplus crude stock on the global market may depress the price rally of the recent months"

:(

[tomorrowusa]

Ukraine is hitting Russia where it hurts – in its fossil fuel industry.

Ukrainian drones have attacked several oil refineries in Russia, hundreds of kilometres from the frontline in regions including Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Leningrad. The continuing attacks are part of a strategy to hurt Russia’s economy. The Ryazan oil refinery, Rosneft’s biggest refinery, was set ablaze, a regional governor said on Wednesday. It shut down two damaged primary oil refining units. Rosneft did not comment. The plant handles about 5.8% of Russia’s total refined crude, according to industry sources. A fire broke out at Norsi, Russia’s fourth-largest refinery, after a Ukrainian drone attack, Russian officials said on Tuesday. Its main crude distillation unit was damaged, which means that at least half of the refinery’s production is halted, according to industry sources. Norsi handles nearly 6% of Russia’s total refined crude. Before the latest drone attack, one of its two catalytic crackers had already been put out of action. The governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, said a Ukrainian drone targeted the Kirishi refinery. It is one of the top two refineries in Russia, handling 6.4% of Russia’s capacity, according to industry sources. And the Novoshakhtinsk export oil refinery in Russia’s southern Rostov region had to suspend operations on Wednesday after a drone attack.

Russia's economy is about the same size as that of Italy which has maybe 40% as many people as Russia. And much of that economy is centered on fossil fuels. Putin and his oligarch buddies skim off graft to enrich themselves; those superyachts, palaces, and prime real estate properties abroad are all ultimately paid for by countries which import Russian oil and gas. Meanwhile, Russians outside the big cities live in poverty; imagine a 1920s standard of living but with censored internet and state TV.

Ukraine is doing the climate a big favor by indirectly encouraging importers of Russian fossil fuels to look for cleaner replacements.

Some other bits of good news for Ukraine...

EU agrees to €5 billion boost in Ukraine military aid

European Union member states agreed Wednesday to provide Ukraine with an additional  €5 billion ($5.5 billion) in military aid. Belgium, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, said ambassadors from the bloc's 27 nations had agreed "in principle" on the plan to support arms supplies to Kyiv in 2024.  The contribution of €5 billion will go on EU-managed fund called the European Peace Facility. The fund operates as a giant cashback scheme, giving EU members refunds for sending munitions to other countries. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called it a "powerful and timely demonstration of European unity."

White House announces $300 million military aid package for Ukraine

With new aid for Ukraine stalled in Congress since December, the White House on Tuesday announced it had cobbled together another $300 million in military assistance to use as a stopgap measure. "The package includes munitions and rounds to help Ukraine hold the line against Russia's brutal attacks for the next couple of weeks,” President Joe Biden said in a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Donald Tusk at the White House, adding, "we must act before it literally is too late.” National security adviser Jake Sullivan detailed the package at White House briefing, saying that the aid comes as Ukraine "does not have enough ammunition to fire back." "So today, on behalf of President Biden, I'm announcing an emergency package of security assistance of $300 million worth of weapons and equipment to address some of Ukraine's pressing needs," Sullivan said.

French National Assembly approves bilateral security agreement with Ukraine

The 10-year security pact with Ukraine includes commitments by Paris to deliver more arms, train soldiers and send up to 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) in military aid to Ukraine in 2024. Macron has also adopted a tougher stance towards Russia, urging Ukraine's allies to urgently do more. He also did not rule out the presence of Western troops in Ukraine which has created a backlash among some Ukrainian officials had told Reuters they were worried that a vote not overwhelmingly in favour of Kyiv would be negative symbolically and could hurt President Emmanuel Macron's efforts to ramp up his country's support in the coming months.

AOC says Democrats must take advantage of ‘razor-thin’ House margin after Ken Buck steps down

In an unexpected Tuesday evening announcement, Mr Buck — a Republican from Colorado — said he would leave Congress next Friday, rather than retiring at the end of his term as originally planned. Afterwards, Republicans will hold just 218 seats out of 435 in the House, leaving Democrats one step closer to clinching the majority. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from New York and member of the progressive Squad, told The Independent her party must take advantage of Mr Buck’s early departure. Ms Ocasio-Cortez said Democrats “have to make sure that that we see that do the best we can to navigate how razor-thin the situation is.”

That last item is rather interesting. Ken Buck, a never-Trump Republican, is stepping down early. His seat in a deep red district will be vacant until late June when a special election is likely to take place. His departure will leave the House GOP (for now) with 218 seats – the bare minimum for a majority. This will make it easier for Democrats to persuade several remaining anti-Putin Republicans to defy Speaker "MAGA Mike" Johnson's wishes and support President Biden's aid package for Ukraine.

[zvaigzdelasas]

China has carried out the successful operation of a high-pressure pure hydrogen pipeline, according to local media. ChinaDaily has reported China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corp. (PipeChina) completed its first test on the pipeline at a testing ground in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in Northwest China. The test comes as part of PipeChina’s efforts to advance technologies for the storage and transportation of hydrogen, and says the test provides technical support for future large-scale, low-cost and long-distance hydrogen transportation. In April this year (2023), China’s largest oil refiner Sinopec revealed plans for a 400km west-to-east hydrogen pipeline to take the energy carrier from the renewable-rich west to the energy consuming east. Expected to be able to handle 100,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year in its initial phase, it is understood the pipeline could have its capacity increased to facilitate the movement of 500,000 tonnes in the future.

27 Jun 23

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Brazil's 12-month inflation hits target ceiling

Brazil’s 12-month inflation rate reached the target ceiling in July, as anticipated following Petrobras’s announcement of a fuel price hike. The state-controlled oil and gas giant, responsible for over 80 percent of the country’s refining capacity, drove inflation up by 0.38 percent in July compared to the previous month.

This increase was primarily due to a 1.82 percent rise in transportation costs, further exacerbated by soaring airfare prices during the mid-year school vacation period. These expenses contributed 0.37 percentage points (p.p.) to the official IPCA index, as measured by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

Gasoline prices rose 3.15 percent in July, impacting the index by 0.16 p.p., while airfares surged by 19.39 percent, adding 0.11 percent to the IPCA.

On a positive note, food inflation eased slightly, with the cost of eating at home dropping by 1.51 percent and an overall deflation of 1 percent in food and beverages. Food costs are a critical economic gauge in Brazil, as they weigh heavily on the budgets of low-income families. 

Continue reading.

[mokhosz-nafo]

🔥🦅 Ukrainian drone strikes in early 2024 knocked out 14% of Russia's oil refining capacity and led to an increase in domestic fuel prices, - Pentagon.

[greatwyrmgold]

I was rereading some old Friday Factorio Factses, when one sentence jumped out at me:

I'm sure nothing will mind if you mine a little… …but who knows what might awaken in the depths of Vulcanus.

That made me think of another tidbit that I eventually found in FFF #373:

The expansion contains 4 additional planets. [...] Most of them also have different military targets.

That got me thinking about those "different military targets". Space platforms have to deal with very different defense challenges than Nauvis's biters and spitters—shooting down meteoroids, both to keep them from breaking the platform and to harvest their resources.

What about Vulcanus and Fulgora? The devs haven't said a word, but I hope that they're different from Nauvis's biters—maybe not as much as the meteoroids, but different.

I have a very specific hypothesis for Fulgora.

For a planet with an ancient long-lost civilization, the obvious "military target" is some remnant of that civilization. Perhaps a semi-functional automated system, desperate for components but without the industrial capacity to extract or refine them from Fulgora's ruins. So when the Engineer shows up and creates that capacity, the system sends drones at them.

Drones which fly quickly, faster than the Engineer's drones, buoyed and powered by the planet's overwhelming static electricity. They are not slowed by the oil sands or stopped by walls, and they don't care about turrets or infrastructure. (Or radars.) They target production buildings, ripping them apart to extract the components within.

The drones can't be blocked, only destroyed. Walls are useless, so build turrets—either a solid wall of them wherever drones might fly through, or spread throughout the base. Oh, and maybe they drop scrap when destroyed. And maybe you can build some kind of constant-AoE-damage electrostatic "turret" to hurt them?

That said, kovarex and Earendel said most planets would have different military targets, and Fulgora seems like the least likely planet to have something to shoot. It has the lightning to defend the base against, and the lack of moving targets would make the place feel more abandoned. Maybe the last planet just mixes military threats from the first four, but Fulgora not having enemies seems pretty likely.

As for Vulcanus? I dunno. The obvious answer is lava monsters, which emerge from lava pits you can't remove until very late-game and which are necessary for industry on the planet. You can't just set up a Nauvis-style perimeter here, either; you need to set up defenses around the lava you're using, and any other nearby lava.

But I really hope it's not lava monsters, because I'd like there to be a lava equivalent of the flamethrower turret—something that takes fluid as ammunition—so I can go all Boatmurdered on them. But lava monsters would probably be immune or at least resistant to that kind of attack. (Then again, so were Boatmurdered's zombie elephants.)

[tubetrading]

What are the Major Applications of Stainless Steel Pipes in Various Industries?

Stainless steel, an alloy known for its extraordinary qualities and adaptability, has garnered significant popularity in a wide range of industries.  Stainless steel pipes are of significant importance in various applications due to their exceptional durability, resistance to corrosion, and capacity to endure severe temperatures.  Tired of corrosion? Choose stainless steel! Rely on the expertise of Tube Trading Co. as the most trusted Stainless steel pipes dealer in Vadodara, Gujarat for high-quality solutions.

This blog post aims to explore the primary applications of stainless steel pipes across many industries, highlighting the substantial influence and enhancement that this material brings to numerous sectors.

·         Chemical and Petrochemical Industry:

The utilisation of stainless steel pipes is essential within the chemical and petrochemical sector.  These containers are employed for the purpose of conveying substances that possess corrosive properties, such as chemicals, acids, and other things that are deemed dangerous.  The inherent corrosion resistance exhibited by stainless steel guarantees the secure and effective conveyance of crucial substances necessary for production procedures while upholding safety standards.

·         Oil and Gas Industry:

The utilisation of stainless steel pipes is of utmost importance in the oil and gas industry, as they play a critical role in the processes of drilling, extraction, and transportation.  The aforementioned pipes possess desirable characteristics that make them well-suited for the transportation of crude oil, natural gas, and refined goods.  These attributes include their ability to withstand corrosion, endure high pressure, and tolerate harsh temperature extremes.

·         Water Treatment and Desalination:

Stainless steel pipes are widely utilised in water treatment facilities and desalination procedures.  The corrosion-resistant characteristics of these materials contribute to an extended operational lifespan, rendering them a highly suitable option for the conveyance of potable water and the effective treatment of wastewater.

·         Food and Beverage Industry:

The food and beverage industry commonly utilises stainless steel pipes as a fundamental component, mostly due to their hygienic properties, resistance to corrosion, and simplicity of cleaning.  They are employed for the purpose of transporting various constituents, processed edibles, and even potable water, thereby guaranteeing both the safety and purity of the aforementioned substances.

·         Automotive Industry:

The automotive industry utilises stainless steel pipes in exhaust systems due to their capacity to endure elevated temperatures and their resistance to corrosion resulting from exhaust gases.  This use enhances the durability and effectiveness of automobiles.

·         Construction and Architecture:

The construction and architecture industry extensively uses stainless steel pipes for many structural applications, including the construction of building frameworks, installation of handrails, and reinforcement of support columns.  The combination of their robustness, visual attractiveness, and ability to withstand all weather conditions renders them a highly suitable option.  Forge a path of longevity and reliability with stainless steel.  Trust Tube Trading Co. – an excellent Stainless steel pipes distributor in Vadodara, Gujarat, for top-notch products.

·         Aerospace Industry:

Stainless steel pipes find application in the aerospace sector for the production of components that necessitate exceptional strength, resistance to corrosion, and a lightweight nature.  The inclusion of these pipes significantly enhances the dependability and security of both aeroplanes and spacecraft.

·         Pharmaceutical Industry:

The pharmaceutical industry heavily relies on the utilisation of stainless steel pipes for the transportation of medicinal substances and pharmaceutical-grade liquids.  The sanitary features of the transportation system guarantee the preservation of the integrity and quality of the substances being conveyed.

·         Marine Industry:

The marine sector relies heavily on the utilisation of stainless steel pipes for various purposes, such as shipbuilding, offshore oil drilling platforms, and undersea pipelines.  Stainless steel possesses inherent anti-corrosive characteristics that contribute to its exceptional endurance and reliability when exposed to hostile marine environments.

·         Energy Sector:

The utilisation of stainless steel pipes is of utmost importance in the energy sector, as they play a critical role in the construction of power plants, transmission lines, and renewable energy installations.  These devices facilitate the transportation of steam, gases, and liquids in a dependable and effective manner.

Final Thoughts:

Stainless steel pipes have significantly transformed multiple industries due to their exceptional attributes of durability, reliability, and cost-efficiency.  The various uses mentioned above highlight the importance of this alloy and its crucial contribution to the progress of contemporary industrial procedures.  Stainless steel pipes are very valued assets in several sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, and safety-critical applications.  Their significance is anticipated to increase as industries undergo additional advancements.  Choose the best for your projects.  Choose Tube Trading Co. as your reliable Stainless steel pipes supplier in Vadodara, Gujarat, for top-grade stainless steel products that drive excellence.  Get in touch with the experts at Tube Trading Co. today and shape a stronger future.

[dufflemantrika]

Chinese-style Opium paraphernalia. from Steven Martin's "Opium Fiend"

"Chandu" is the term for refined opium prepared for imbibition via pipe. Opium smokers typically prepared a pipe by heating a copper pan of liquid opium over an oil lamp (fragrant coconut oil was preferred, however vegetable oil was common). This heating turned the opium viscous, allowing for it to be collected onto an "Opium needle" and dexterously rolled into a spherical "pill" against a small handheld pallet, or the surface of the pipe bowl. The pill could then be placed inside a ceramic chamber, referred to as the bowl, by ramming the needle through a narrow pinhole.

Just like teapots in Chinese tea culture, bowls made from Yixing clay were prized for their porosity and capacity to absorb the aromatic oils of their contents, cultivating a patina which, if formed from high quality Chandu, could augment the aromatics and intoxicating effect of each pill. Aside from the bowl, the material of the pipe body played a role in enhancing the vapours, porous woods and woody stems, like that of sugarcane, were equally important for subtly enhancing the texture and aroma, while still preserving the complexity of the vapours.

The pipe would be held just above the lamp, with intent to vaporise the Chandu without burning away the alkaloids responsible for the blissful effects (Opium 'smoking' is somewhat of a misnomer). As depicted in media, Opium smokers would typically recline with their pipes, as this was the most comfortable position to hold bowl over the lamp. Unadulterated Opium is said to induce an energised awareness and feelings of childlike wonder and optimism, conducive to the appreciation of art and poetry among the originators of opium culture, Qing literati. The everyday Opium addict was unlikely to be enjoying this pure form of the drug, rather their Chandu was likely to have undergone several stages of adulteration, allowing for distributors to sell higher quantities of diluted Opium. To make up for the lost potency due to dilution, "Dross" the oily residue which was cleaned from the pipe bowl after use, would be added. Dross contained high concentrations of Morphine, and would result in sedation when smoked. Dross contaminated Opium is likely what is responsible for the popular perception of Opium and its effects.

[mariacallous]

In recent weeks, Ukraine has found a way to overcome a lack of aid and a dearth of ammunition, using long-range drones to strike oil industry assets deep inside Russia. The attacks on Russian oil refineries—which number at least a dozen so far, including some very long-range strikes—have damaged Russia’s ability to process and refine its huge output of crude oil, dealing a small but meaningful blow to a Russian energy sector that has so far weathered the war and Western sanctions in surprisingly good shape.

The campaign, which has been tacitly acknowledged by Ukrainian security services and officials, is meant to strike at both the economic and logistic sinews of Russia’s war effort, which is still grinding its way through the third year of its invasion of Ukraine. (Ukrainian drones have also targeted Russian defense production plants.) 

“These attacks are on a major source for the Russian budget, and that budget is being spent on military equipment,” said James Henderson, an expert on the Russian energy sector at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. 

Moscow gets about 40 percent of its federal budget from the export of crude oil and refined products (and that share is even bigger when converted into Russian rubles), making the sector a key part of the Kremlin’s ability to increase defense spending, rebuild its shattered armies, and purchase huge amounts of foreign-made weaponry to use against Ukraine. Russian refineries also churn out millions of barrels a day of products such as diesel and aviation fuel, which are needed for Russia’s perpetually logistics-constrained armed forces.

The Ukrainian strikes so far, which have damaged numerous refineries and started several fires, have knocked out anywhere between 400,000 and 900,000 barrels a day of refining capacity, according to estimates from energy experts and defense officials. Russia has an installed refining capacity—not all of which it uses—of about 6 million barrels a day, and refineries processing more than 2 million barrels a day have been targeted by Ukrainian strikes, some that did superficial damage and some that did more, in recent months.

While the impact of the Ukrainian attacks has varied from refinery to refinery, they present two big problems for Moscow. First, the continued attacks will further stretch Russia’s limited air defenses across even farther-flung bits of its sprawling territory. Second, due to years of Western sanctions, repairs to more advanced refinery components could be much trickier than in normal circumstances, which could affect Russia’s ability to churn out higher-value petroleum products, such as high-octane fuels.

“The higher-quality products are the ones that are going to be at higher risk,” Henderson said.

The Ukrainian onslaught has consequences that reach beyond the Kremlin. Moscow has retaliated with its own bombing campaign, a reprise of previous years’ efforts to destroy Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Russian missiles struck power supply facilities all over Ukraine last week in what appeared to be the biggest attack yet on Ukraine’s ability to keep the lights on. That’s especially problematic since Ukraine is running low on air defense ammunition needed to protect large cities and power plants, and the big U.S. aid package remains captive in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

The strikes are also rippling into trading rooms in New York and London. Global oil prices have stayed above $80 a barrel over concerns of an escalation of Ukrainian attacks that could inflict further damage on one of the world’s biggest oil producers and exporters. That’s one reason why the Biden administration, facing a fall election, seems nervous about the Ukrainian drone campaign. 

U.S. officials reportedly asked Ukraine to limit strikes on Russian oil facilities that could lead to higher prices, though Kyiv has made clear that its campaign will continue. Unlike U.S.-delivered long-range weapons, the drones used for the oil industry assaults are Ukrainian and don’t carry Western restrictions. A White House spokesperson declined to comment directly on reports that it asked Ukraine to abstain from such attacks, but White House national security spokesperson John Kirby reiterated that “we do not encourage or enable the Ukrainian military to conduct strikes inside Russia.”

Since the start of the war, the Biden administration has been leery of squeezing Russia’s energy golden goose too hard, lest it spike global energy prices. The embargo on Russian oil exports was only gradually phased in, and a price cap on Russian crude meant to limit Moscow’s energy earnings has proved disappointing. 

What’s more, until recently, Russia was able to use a fleet of shadow oil tankers—vessels that circumvent normal shipping rules such as insurance and identification—to bypass Western restrictions on shipping its crude by sea. All of that has meant that the prewar level of Russian oil exports has been basically unaffected by sanctions and embargoes. But a growing crackdown on shadow tankers, coupled with further Ukrainian strikes, could make for a tighter oil market in months to come, said ClearView Energy Partners, an energy consultancy.

But that’s not Ukraine’s concern. Rather, Kyiv figures that if Russia has trouble processing its crude, it may be forced to pump less. Indeed, Russia this week announced that it will cut oil output to comply with informal production quotas agreed with OPEC+; some energy experts believe Moscow has little choice given the carnage in its downstream facilities.

But there’s another risk, Henderson warned. Just as the United States and other Western countries have gotten more rigorous at cracking down on Russia’s evasion of oil export bans, Moscow may have an incentive to just export more of its unrefined crude. If it does so, it will mean a return to steep discounts on Russian oil as compared with global benchmarks, which will give shippers and third countries reason to get creative yet again at sidestepping sanctions. 

[atlanticcanada]

Europe’s low diesel supply fuels Maritime price surge

High demand for diesel in parts of Europe is fueling a new $3 per-litre threshold in New Brunswick.

New Brunswick’s Energy and Utilities Board invoked its interrupter clause early Saturday morning, sending the price of diesel up 68.6 cents to a maximum of 307.3 cents per litre.

“I got a text Saturday morning with a picture from New Brunswick of the pump price, and I had to do a double take,” says Trevor Bent, CEO of Eassons Transport in Kentville, N.S. “I thought it was a joke at first. It was unexpected.”

All three Maritime provinces saw an increase in diesel prices this past weekend.

“This is certainly a concern for this coming week,” says Bent, who is also the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association’s board chairman. “We’re a week behind in our fuel surcharge. We pay the price this week and then we don’t collect until next week. So if there’s an increase we don’t actually see an increase in our program until the following week. That lag in and of itself from a cash flow perspective is one thing that can hurt and we feel that.”

Supply issues and market volatility are expected to continue throughout the winter months, according to Patrick De Haan, the head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.com.

“The only good news is maybe months away and that is there’s additional refining capacity coming online in the next year,” says De Haan. “But a lot of that is overseas and Canada has had a very tough policy on producing oil and refining it.”

De Haan says diesel price pressures in the Maritimes and the U.S. New England states are being exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Russia produces a lot of heavy oil,” says De Haan. “Europe has been trying to rid itself of that Russian oil and products like diesel. So there has been incredible demand from Europe to get supply of diesel from the other side of the pond.”

“Increasingly, Europe has been trying to pull away diesel products from Canada and the northeastern United States. And that has put an incredible constraint on supply, pushing prices through the roof.”

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/M8HZsOB

[chemanalystdata]

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Prices | Pricing | Trend | News | Database | Chart | Forecast

 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a widely used fuel source for domestic, industrial, and commercial purposes across the globe. It is derived from natural gas and crude oil processing, making it a versatile and efficient energy option for millions of households. One of the most discussed aspects of LPG in recent years has been its fluctuating prices, influenced by several complex factors. These include the dynamics of global crude oil prices, geopolitical tensions, supply and demand imbalances, transportation costs, and seasonal variations, among others. As a result, LPG prices have become a significant concern for both consumers and policymakers alike, directly impacting energy affordability and market stability. Understanding the dynamics of LPG prices requires a closer look at the market forces at play and how external conditions shape the cost of this essential fuel.

At its core, LPG pricing is closely tied to crude oil, as the majority of LPG is a byproduct of crude oil refining and natural gas extraction. Therefore, when global crude oil prices rise or fall, LPG prices typically follow the same trajectory. For example, during periods of heightened demand for oil or supply disruptions caused by geopolitical events, LPG prices can spike sharply. Conversely, when oil prices decline due to oversupply or lower global demand, LPG prices may ease, benefiting consumers. This close correlation between crude oil and LPG makes the latter highly sensitive to global market fluctuations, often leading to volatile price swings that can be difficult to predict. In some cases, these price changes can occur rapidly, leaving consumers struggling to adjust to higher costs, especially in regions where LPG is the primary cooking and heating fuel.

Get Real Time Prices for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/liquified-petroleum-gas-lpg-16Another critical factor influencing LPG prices is the balance between supply and demand. Global demand for LPG has been steadily increasing, particularly in developing countries, where it serves as a clean and efficient alternative to traditional fuels like wood and coal. As more households transition to LPG for cooking and heating, the demand rises, which can lead to upward pressure on prices, particularly if supply does not keep pace. Supply disruptions, such as natural disasters, pipeline failures, or political unrest in key exporting countries, can exacerbate the situation, causing short-term price hikes. Additionally, the availability of storage infrastructure and the efficiency of distribution networks play a role in determining the final price that consumers pay. Regions with limited storage capacity or inefficient distribution systems may experience higher prices due to increased transportation and logistical costs.

Seasonal variations also contribute to the fluctuation of LPG prices. In many parts of the world, LPG demand peaks during the winter months, when households rely on the fuel for heating. This increased demand often drives up prices, as suppliers struggle to meet the surge in consumption. Conversely, during the warmer months, demand typically falls, leading to a reduction in prices. However, these seasonal changes can vary significantly depending on the region. For instance, in tropical countries, where there is less reliance on heating, the seasonal impact on LPG prices may be minimal. On the other hand, in colder regions, winter demand can lead to sharp price increases, particularly if there are supply constraints or harsh weather conditions that disrupt distribution networks. As a result, consumers may see significant differences in LPG prices depending on the time of year and their geographical location.

Transportation costs are another key component of LPG pricing. Since LPG is often produced in specific regions but consumed globally, it must be transported across long distances, either by pipeline, ship, or truck. The cost of transporting LPG can vary significantly based on factors such as distance, fuel prices for transportation, and the availability of transportation infrastructure. For example, regions that are closer to major LPG production hubs may benefit from lower prices due to reduced transportation costs. Conversely, remote areas or landlocked countries may face higher prices, as the cost of transporting LPG to these regions is significantly higher. Additionally, transportation disruptions, such as strikes, natural disasters, or political unrest, can further drive up prices by limiting the availability of LPG in certain regions.

Geopolitical tensions also have a profound impact on LPG prices. Many of the world's largest LPG producers are located in politically sensitive regions, such as the Middle East. When geopolitical tensions escalate in these areas, the global supply of LPG can be threatened, leading to price spikes. For instance, conflicts, trade disputes, or sanctions imposed on major LPG-producing countries can restrict the flow of LPG to the global market, causing supply shortages and driving up prices. Additionally, the imposition of tariffs or export restrictions by key producers can further exacerbate price volatility, making it difficult for importing countries to secure a stable and affordable supply of LPG.

Government policies and subsidies can also play a role in shaping LPG prices. In many countries, particularly in developing regions, governments provide subsidies to make LPG more affordable for households. These subsidies can help stabilize prices and protect consumers from the full impact of global market fluctuations. However, when governments reduce or eliminate these subsidies due to budget constraints or policy shifts, consumers can experience sudden and sharp increases in LPG prices. In some cases, this can lead to social unrest or protests, particularly if LPG is a critical fuel source for a large portion of the population. Additionally, taxation policies, environmental regulations, and import duties can all influence the final price that consumers pay for LPG.

In conclusion, LPG prices are influenced by a complex interplay of global market forces, supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical tensions, transportation costs, and government policies. While consumers may benefit from lower prices during periods of oversupply or reduced demand, they are also vulnerable to sharp price increases when supply is constrained or global oil prices rise. Understanding the factors that drive LPG prices is crucial for consumers, businesses, and policymakers, as it enables them to make informed decisions about energy usage, budgeting, and market regulations. As the global demand for LPG continues to grow, particularly in developing regions, ensuring a stable and affordable supply of this essential fuel will remain a priority for governments and industry stakeholders alike.

Get Real Time Prices for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): https://www.chemanalyst.com/Pricing-data/liquified-petroleum-gas-lpg-16

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